Chess Openings·Sicilian Defence, Poisoned Pawn Variation

Semi-Open Game

Sicilian Defence, Poisoned Pawn Variation

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Qb6

Step through

14 / 14
  1. 1.
  3. 2.
  5. 3.
  7. 4.
  9. 5.
  11. 6.
  13. 7.

Tap a move to jump to that position.

Instead of copying the centre, the reply comes from the side. Both kings come under fire early, so one slip decides it. Of the four central squares, pawns stand on e4. 2 pieces have left the board. Neither side has castled yet.

The position

Length
14 moves
To move
White
Legal replies
44
Minor pieces out
White 3 · Black 1
Material
level
Castling rights left
KQkq
FEN
rnb1kb1r/1p3ppp/pq1ppn2/6B1/3NPP2/2N5/PPP3PP/R2QKB1R w KQkq - 1 8

Move by move

Each move spelled out: which piece went from where to where.

  1. 1.e4White: Pawn e2→e4
  2. 1…c5Black: Pawn c7→c5
  3. 2.Nf3White: Knight g1→f3
  4. 2…d6Black: Pawn d7→d6
  5. 3.d4White: Pawn d2→d4
  6. 3…cxd4Black: Pawn c5→d4 (capture)
  7. 4.Nxd4White: Knight f3→d4 (capture)
  8. 4…Nf6Black: Knight g8→f6
  9. 5.Nc3White: Knight b1→c3
  10. 5…a6Black: Pawn a7→a6
  11. 6.Bg5White: Bishop c1→g5
  12. 6…e6Black: Pawn e7→e6
  13. 7.f4White: Pawn f2→f4
  14. 7…Qb6Black: Queen d8→b6

Nearby lines

first 10 moves shared

Sicilian Defence, Najdorf Variation…Nf6 Nc3 a6Sicilian Defence, English Attack…Be3 e5 Nb3 Be6Sicilian Defence, Open Variation…Nxd4 Nf6 Nc3Sicilian Defence, Dragon Variation…g6Sicilian Defence, Scheveningen Variation…e6Sicilian Defence, Classical Variation…Nc6

Common questions

Q. What are the moves of Sicilian Defence, Poisoned Pawn Variation?

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Qb6

Q. Which family does it belong to?

Semi-Open Game — 1.e4 met by anything other than 1…e5.

Q. Who is to move next?

After 14 moves it is White to move.